Seriously Apartment Hunting

Ryan and I have started looking for a new apartment as we will have to move by April 1st. Not an April Fools joke (we double checked). Usually I find this process extremely invigorating... kind of like yard saleing. It's another way to make that dollar stretch and feel pretty smart in getting more for less. This time around has not been invigorating, however. I'm just not finding someone who wants to house us for free. What is up with this economy??? I mean, COME ON. Free is the name of the game. I think the tricky thing about finding a dwelling that's free in 2010 might have something to do with a new attitude I've developed. I am now unwilling to participate in any hint of extra work: mowing the lawn- no, vacuuming- no, managing other apartments- no, cooking meals for others- no, creating a loving/feel good atmosphere- no. I want free with no strings attached. Just free. Zero obligations, zero moneys. Me, my honey, 2 kids, free:) And I haven't found it yet. Any suggestions? Pass along leads if you get one.

Since free hasn't come along YET I've started to look for cheap. I found what appeared to be an incredibly sweet deal 2 days ago. Get this- 3 bedrooms, washer/dryer hook-ups, fenced yard, abt 1000 sq feet, all utilities included in the rent, month to month contract, all for just $500! I read the description approximately 5 times before calling to make a walk through appointment. These people may not be all about free, but still a freaking good deal, right? "Lily" said the door would be open and we could go through on our own. Number one bad sign. People who leave an empty apartment open don't really care about the apartment. It kind of says, "This hole cannot become more of a hole. I don't care what you do to it."

The apartment was... scary. It was exactly what a horror movie director tries to recreate on his set. You knew all kinds of drugs had been on the premise (which I found very funny since the ad said "Absolutely no smoking or pets of any kind!" - but I'll leave it open in case a few drug addicts need to entertain.) Holes in the walls and stairs, open venting in place of baseboards, water heater and other large machine on either side of you as you enter the living room. One ginormous spider in a bedroom. Here's the thing. That large of a spider was around on January 20th. Exactly how many spider legs and of what size will be running around the apartment on August 1st? I may be working on my phobia. But not like that. The whole thing was just strange and dark. The mirror in the bathroom had been stolen. The washer/dryer hook-ups were situated in a place where only one appliance would be able to fit. Unless you could stack them I guess. I should have been prepared when the only pictures accompanying the ad had been of the backyard grass and the kitchen sink. I'm not sure how many times I said no in the apartment last night. Maybe 8... or 27. One of those. Am I becoming all ritzy, high maintenance, I have to have the latest greatest of everything? I'm always about the good deal. But I just couldn't bear to think of taking my children in there for 5 minutes let alone 6+ months.

So we passed.

We also saw that our old/first apartment/small hole is available again. You remember it, don't you? The bathroom door didn't close so when company came over, well, awkward. I know it's been improved since we left though. Apparently it now has 2 bedrooms??? I'm not sure if they are now using the living room or the hallway as the 2nd bedroom. But either way, SPACIOUS.

Let us know if you happen to run into a decent deal (no longer a cheap one).